Convenient video program start over system and method for a video entertainment distribution network

ABSTRACT

A system and method are described herein for providing an convenient video program start over system and method for a video entertainment distribution network whereby a user may interactively revert back to the beginning of an ongoing video program that is currently broadcasted over the video distribution network. The novel system and method may be implemented on any video network having interactive television (ITV) capabilities, wherein user requests from a client are serviceable at an upstream head end, and video storage means exist for the purpose of storage of time based broadcast video programs. The system preferably utilizes a process that involves a minimally complicated sequence of commands that are easily understood and remembered by virtually any user, thereby enhancing the probability of consumer acceptance. The start over system and method may be embodied as a program of instructions, defining a controller, that are executed by a micro-processor located in the STB (client) or head end (server). Optional means are also provided for allowing only a subset of all available broadcast video programs that emanate from a plurality of programming sources to be used with the start over system.

BACKGROUND TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) on U.S.Provisional application No. 60/590,056 Entitled “ONE TOUCH, START OVER”,filed on Jul. 2 2004, by James R, Albrecht, et al.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to interactive television systemsproviding DVD-like functionality, and more specifically, to a systemwhich enables the instantaneous replay from the start of a partiallyelapsed program emanating from a conventional programming source usingan convenient minimally interactive procedure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Historically, television programming sources provided multi-mediaentertainment to the consumer public over an aerial broadcast mediumsuch that individual program offerings were supplied only atpredetermined times as determined by the programming source. With thisconstraint, a consumer was essentially forced to modify his or herpersonal schedule in order to view the desired program at theprespecified time. The advent of video cassette recorders (VCRs), andother similar video recording devices such as digital versatile disks(DVDs), and TiVO™ brand digital video recording (DVR) equipment havealleviated this problem somewhat by allowing the user to record programsfrom a broadcast channel for personal viewing at a later time.Nevertheless, this flexibility requires that the user maintain aproactive knowledge base of future programming in order to avoid missingan interesting program altogether. The multi-media entertainmentgenerally consists of video portion and an associated audio portion(hereinafter to be collectively termed video), which is typicallydelineated into multiple video programs, each spanning a predeterminedamount of time.

Traditional television broadcast offerings consisted of relatively fewchoices in concurrent video programs from which a user simply chosebetween a very short list of program alternatives for view at anyparticular time. Nevertheless, television programming sources have sinceburgeoned into a rather large industry, wherein today's cable accesstelevision (CATV), and direct broadcast satellite (DBS) systems provideover a hundred channels, which are available for viewing at any giventime. Given this rather large selection of viewing options, aphenomenon, commonly known as “channel surfing”, has developed wherebythe user alternatively views each of the available channels at asomewhat rapid pace in order to find an interesting program. Thismakeshift mode of program selection does abate the necessity ofmaintaining an active knowledge of future programming, yet the initialportions of the video programs are almost always invariably missed dueto the fact that the user is only able to obtain knowledge of theongoing program after it has been playing for some predetermined amountof time.

Advances in video technology have provided for various types of video ondemand (VoD) services, which have generally increased the level ofinteractivity that a user may have with their television viewingexperience. Whereas viewing options historically available to the useronly consisted of switching among the different channel offerings, VoDhas provided such services as Pay-PerView™, wherein a user may order andview video programs from the CATV provider. Another service that hasbeen proposed for use within a VoD environment is VCR-likefunctionality, wherein the user is allowed to interactivelyfast-forward, reverse, pause, or stop an ongoing video program. U.S.Pat. No. 6,609,253 to Swix, et al. describes one such device wherein amethod is disclosed for managing potential bandwidth problems that arecreated while providing VCR-like functionality within a typical VoDsystem. U.S. Pat. No, 6,608,966 to Anderson, et al. describes a methodof canceling selected frames from a conventional MPEG-2 video stream inorder to enable fast-forward, and reverse functionality. The '966 and'253 devices, however, are defined for use only with stored videoassets; rewinding to an earlier portion of an ongoing video program isnot enabled using the teachings described therein.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,263 to O'Callaghan does describe a device whichprovides for rewind functionality to an ongoing program by the creationof duplicate copies of an ongoing program that are stored in atime-staggered fashion such that a user may interactively reverse,pause, or fast-forward through the video program via alternative accessto either of these time-staggered video assets. However, no means aredisclosed for quickly reverting back to the beginning of the ongoingprogram. Furthermore, it is contemplated that such a system that enablesrewind to the start of a relatively long program would unduly tax thestorage requirements of a typical VoD system as well unduly burdenmulti-media transport mediums such as currently implemented coaxialcable or hybrid fiber cable (HFC) distribution lines having only afinite amount of available bandwidth.

Typical users of consumer products will not make use of an availablefunction of that product lithe use of that functionality requires acomplicated sequence of steps or actions. That is, consumer acceptanceis closely associated with simplicity of use. Rewind functionalityprovided by the '263 device is available for ongoing programming,however no means are disclosed for easily, and quickly finding thebeginning of the ongoing program using a simple “start over” procedure,The act of rewinding a program while “channel surfing” is a burdensometask wherein the user is required to rewind the program in an iterativefashion until the starting location is found. It is projected that atypical “channel surfer”, who is characteristically known as a whimsicalviewer, would forgo the use of such a device rather than go through theinvolved procedure of finding the actual beginning of any given program.Throughout the rest of this document, the term “start over” will be usedto denote the action of returning the program to its starting locationand subsequently beginning play therefrom.

Thus there has remained a long-felt, unsatisfied need for a system whichimplements “start over” functionality to an ongoing program of aconventional video distribution system, whereby play of an ongoing videoprogram may be initiated from the start thereof utilizing a process thatinvolves a minimally complicated sequence of commands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTIVES

The present invention provides a solution to these needs, as well asother needs, via a convenient video program start over system and methodfor a video entertainment distribution network whereby a user mayinteractively revert back to the beginning of an ongoing video programthat is currently being broadcast over the video distribution network.With this system, a user who has inadvertently missed a portion of acurrently broadcasted video program may interactively instruct thenetwork to replay the entire program from the beginning thereof using asimple, minimally interactive procedure.

The present system is particularly suited for entertainment videodistribution networks having a video data mass storage device that isadapted for the interactive storage and retrieval of selected streams ofvideo data from a programming source. Such systems may include communityaccess TV (CATV, also known as cable television), direct broadcastsatellite (DBS) distribution networks having interactive television(ITV) capabilities, or may even be comprised of a system having aninteractively controlled mass storage system located at the customerpremises such as TiVO™ brand digital video recording (DVR) equipment. Aninteractive television (ITV) enabled network defined as pertaining tothis disclosure, is the ability of a server device such as a head end toreceive and process upstream requests from a distally located clientdevice such as a conventional set top box (STB) and thus manipulatevideo data which is sent downstream to the STB corresponding to thoserequests. ITV functionality is typically provided in a videodistribution network via a conventional type of system which is commonlyreferred to as a navigator. The navigator, among other services,provides a means of handling human interaction with the network in apreferably ergonomic manner, and processes requests from the user, thenforwards these requests to the upstream server or head end. Thenavigator is preferably a microprocessor driven algorithm which isexecuted by a plurality of stored program instructions located either inthe head end or STB.

The present invention provides a user interface which is simple andconvenient, thereby enhancing the probability of acceptance by a user.The system preferably utilizes a process that involves a minimallycomplicated sequence of commands that are easily understood andremembered by virtually any user. The convenient, minimally interactiveprocedure may be defined as any user interactive set of user commandsthat involves a minimally complicated sequence of user operations toinitiate the start over system. As it is well known that systems whichrequire a multiple sequence of actions are not easily remembered, thestart over system preferably provides an intuitive operation requiringpreferably only one-step from a user terminal such as a television styleremote in order to initiate the start over operation.

It is therefore an object of the present invention is to provide anconvenient use video program start over system and method for a videoentertainment distribution network that enables an associated videoprogram that is currently playing on said network to be played from thebeginning of said video program.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an convenientvideo program start over system and method for a video entertainmentdistribution network which is adapted for use in any type of networkhaving interactive television (ITV) capabilities.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an convenientvideo program start over system and method for a video entertainmentdistribution network having a user interface which requires a minimalnumber of user steps in order to initiate the start over operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an convenientvideo program start over system and method for a video entertainmentdistribution network, wherein optional means are provided to allow aprogramming source to determine Which of its particular video programsare to be start over enabled.

These and other objects of the present invention will eco readilyapparent to those familiar with current video distribution principlesand will become apparent in the following portions of the specification,wherein the detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosingpreferred embodiments of the invention without placing limitationsthereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the presentinvention, reference should be made to the following detaileddescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich like elements are given the same or analogous reference numbers,and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of some of the principle components of atypical video distribution system having interactive televisioncapabilities.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a conventional television that iscurrently showing a partially elapsed video program, wherein agraphical, start over icon is overlaid thereon.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a conventional television that iscurrently showing a conventional electronic programming guide (EPG),wherein several partially elapsed video programs each have a graphical,start over icon overlaid thereon, thereby exhibiting that the start oversystem is available for use with that particular video program.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a conventional television having abroadcast program shown thereon, wherein the star over icon exists as aportion of a detailed description overlay bar.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a conventional television having abroadcast program currently being shown thereon, wherein a partialelectronic programming guide has several start over icons embedded onseveral corresponding cells thereof.

FIG. 6 is a simplified example of the start over lookup table of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7A is a simplified example of the programming source start overenablement table of the present invention.

FIG. 7B is a simplified example of the program ID start over enablementtable of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a method for providing the start over systemon a typical video distribution system having interactive televisioncapabilities.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a generic diagrammatic viewof a video entertainment distribution network system having interactivetelevision (ITV) capabilities 10. The system generally comprises a headend II which processes broadcast video programs and other programmingservices emanating from a plurality of programming sources 12 andforwards these video programs onward to a client device such as atypical set top box (STB). Each STB 13 is operable to control whichprograms are shown on their associated display such as a conventionaltelevision 14, and outputs commonly used NTSC, PAL, or SECAM formattedsignals to the television set. The distribution network 15 is typicallycomprised of a lattice of coaxial cable lines or hybrid-fiber-cable(HFC) for connectivity of the head end to the plurality of STBs in thenetwork, and may also include a plurality of broadcast centers or nodesthat each service a subset of STBs within a small demographic area.Although a conventional television was cited as a specific type ofdisplay, it is to be appreciated that the present system may beimplemented with any display defining a consumer electronic displaydevice such as a PDA, a cellular telephone, a television, a personalcomputer, a laptop computer, and the like.

It is noted that the network, as shown in FIG. 1, shows a conventionalvideo entertainment distribution network having a head end thatdistributes video information to a plurality of STBs. However, as isapparent to one skilled in the art, the head end and STBs interconnectedto the distribution network may, in fact, be an internet server and aclient such as a conventional personal computer respectively. That is,the start over system of the present invention may also be implementedon an interne network, or any other network having a head end (server)and STB (client) configuration.

User input is typically accomplished in an ITV enabled network systemvia a remote control device 17, which transmits individual keystrokecommands via infrared (IR), Radio Frequency (RF), or other aeriallytransmittable signals to the STB. However, it is to be appreciated thatuser input may also be accomplished via a personal computer or othersimilar type device having user input means, which is interconnected tothe network. Upstream signaling of user requests are typically providedin a video distribution network via a conventional type of systemcommonly referred to as a navigator. The navigator, among otherservices, provides a means of handling human interaction with thenetwork in a preferably ergonomic manner, and processes requests fromthe user to the upstream server or head end. The navigator is preferablya micro-processor driven algorithm which is executed by a plurality ofstored program instructions located either in the head end or STB.

The head end 11 of a typical ITV enabled system also includes a videoserver 20, which is capable of storing a plurality of video programs forview at a user specified time. The server 20 is operable to processmultiple incoming requests from a plurality of users at the same time,and delegates the necessary bandwidth for a requested stored videoprogram for transmission to the user, wherein such a service that isprovided to the user is commonly referred to as Video-On-Demand (VoD).in order to facilitate storage requirements for such a system, a videostorage device 21 is included therein, which may consist of one or anarray of magnetic disks, optical disks, or servers based on RAMtechnology. Additionally, an video server manager 22 is also includedthat controls access to content stored in the video server 20 and has anassociated program and database storage 23, which houses userinformation, stored video programs, or other fields of information thatare used by the ITV system.

Historically, the incoming video stream contained a plurality ofconcurrent programming sources which were frequency division multiplexedonto a coaxial or fiber optic cable within a video distribution network,each requiring approximately 6 to 8 MHz of bandwidth. However, newertechnologies have enabled digitization of the video stream, whereinindividual video programs transmitted through the distribution networkmay be encapsulated within formats such as MPEG, MPEG-2, IP over DOCSIS,and the like. The newer digitized video formats have been very conduciveto enabling ITV functionality in that upstream signaling (e.g.information which is sent from the STB to the head end) is accomplishedusing in-band signaling. Conversely, the older frequency divisionmultiplexed systems did not provide for 2-way signaling within thedistribution infrastructure, thus full ITV functionality was notpossible with these systems. Additionally, television entertainmentdistribution systems utilizing satellite transmissions, which arecommonly referred to as direct broadcast satellite (DBS), mayincorporate ITV capabilities via use of out-of-band signaling methodsmade possible through the public switched telephone network (PSTN), orother similar upstream signaling mechanism. Accordingly, it is to beappreciated that the principles and teachings of the present inventionare applicable to any video distribution system having ITV capabilitiesincluding those which have been described hereinabove.

Each programming source is allocated within the network and madeavailable to the end user as a selective entity that is designated as achannel. Thus, multiple programming sources that are made concurrentlyavailable to the user over the network, are selectively accessible bythe user using the well known process of changing channels. When carriedon in a relatively rapid manner, the aforedescribed phenomenon of“channel surfing” occurs. Typically, this occurs when the user is simplychanging channels in hopes of finding something interesting to watch.Because content that is currently viewed during the channel surfingoperation has already been in progress for some predetermined amount oftime, a portion of that particular program has been missed by a user.

FIG. 2 shows a television 30 exhibiting a screen-shot 31 of a samplechannel which has been recently accessed by a user, wherein the programhas partially elapsed. A partially elapsed program is defined as a videoprogram having a predetermined run time that has begun play over aspecified channel without having fully elapsed through the entire runtime thereof. A start over icon 32 incorporating an embodiment of thepresent invention is shown on the display screen of the television set,which prompts the user to press a particular key on the remote 17 ifreplay of the presently viewed video program from start is desired. Thestart over icon 32 is preferably a small, graphical image that overlaidor embedded in the existing moving video image, somewhere on the displayso as not to severely impair viewing of the video image, yetsufficiently prominent to alert the user that the start over system isavailable for use. The start over icon is preferably a momentary buttonthat is displayed on the screen for a predetermined period of time,defining an icon persistency time, following a switch to that particularchannel. The icon persistency time is preferably set by a CATV providerto a range of approximately 5 to 20 seconds, wherein it is believed thatthis range of time offers optimal amount of time for a typical user toreact to the start over system offering without encumbering the user'sviewing experience. Following this time, the icon will be removed fromthe screen and the start over system will be disabled for thatparticular channel. Re-enablement of the start over system for thatparticular channel is then only accomplished by switching to a differentchannel and then switching back to the present channel. Thus, there aretwo principle conditions which must exist for the start over icon 32 tobe shown on the television display. The start over icon will only beshown on the display if the particular program is a partially elapsedprogram.

The key on the remote 17, which is used for actuation for the start overfeature, may exist as a dedicated key whose only functionality is toactuate the start over feature. In this case, a relatively small iconrepresentative indicia may be imprinted on the upper surface of the keyin order to facilitate ease of recognition by the user. Alternatively,the key on the remote may exist as a defined key, wherein any keycommonly implemented on a conventional remote may be designated for usewith the start over feature. Examples of such a defined key may be anynumeric key, or either of the “up”, “down”, “left”, or “right” keysdisposed on the remote 17. Nevertheless, it is to be appreciated bythose skilled in the art any type of user input device may beimplemented for initiating the start over feature, wherein severalexamples include a button mounted on the front panel of the STB, or evena key on the keyboard of a personal computer that is interconnected tothe STB.

The overlaid graphical image is created by an on-screen display (OSD)generator algorithm, which exists as a portion of the controller of thepresent invention. The OSD generator is operable to display thegraphical image on top of the resulting raster image of the videoprogram that is displayed on the television. Alternatively, if the OSDportion of the controller is executed from the head end, the graphicalimage may be embedded in the raster image of the video program. Anembedded graphical image is defined as an image that is superimposed onthe raster image of the video program such that only one televisionsignal is sent to the display device. Conversely, a overlaid graphicalimage is defined as an image which is forwarded to the display deviceindependently of the raster image of the video program.

Optionally, another condition for display of the start over icon 32 isdisclosed, wherein individual channels, or individual video programs maybe start over enabled or disabled by the CATV provider or by theprogramming source, thereby defining a start over enablement feature.That is, an entire channel may be configured to allow the start oversystem on all of its programs, or conversely disallowed from the usethereof. Further, individual programs may be enabled/disabled from useof the start over system. For example, some programming sources may notwish to have their programs played at any time other than at theprescribed schedule. Given this case, the programming source would havemeans to disable the start over system using an in-band, downstreamsignaling technique (to be described later). Other examples includeprogramming sources having a programming schedule made up ofpredominantly instantaneous news reporting, yet interspersed withspecial interest news clips having a predetermined run time. Whereas thestart over feature would not make sense for use with the instantaneousnews report content, special interest news clips having information thatis conveyed to the user that is developed throughout the run-timethereof, directly lend themselves for use with the start over system.

One aspect of the optional start over enablement feature is that theCATV provider has an efficient means of managing the storagerequirements for the start over system within a video distributionnetwork having a video storage device of limited storage capacity.Because modern video distribution systems typically offer over severalhundred channels, providing the start over system for all programmingsources or channels would unduly tax the storage capacities of mostcommonly used disk arrays. The start over enablement feature supplies asolution to this need by allowing the CATV provider to choose all of theavailable channels, or only a subset of available channels to beprovided with the start over system.

Optionally, the start over icon may also be provided in conjunction witha. conventional full screen electronic program guide (EPG) as shown inFIG. 3. An exemplary EPG screen 35 is shown having a grid-like displayof five rows depicting the programming schedules for five associatedprogramming sources. Each row has a multiple of cells of varying length,wherein the first cell of the left-most column contains informationregarding the name of the programming source. Successive cells indicateindividual programs that are aligned vertically according to theirrespective time slots. As shown, graphical start over icons 36 are shownembedded or overlaid upon several of the program cells in which thestart over feature is enabled. As is well known in the art, any numberof operations may be supplied to the user order to enable operation ofthe start over feature from within an EPG screen; one exemplary methodcontemplates a dedicated button on the remote, which may be pressed ifthe user wishes to view the desired partially elapsed program from thebeginning thereof Alternatively, the start over icon 38 may be presentedto the user as an embedded or overlaid icon upon a conventionalinformation bar 39 as shown in FIG. 4. Yet another alternativecontemplates a start over icon 48, which is embedded or overlaid uponcells within a partial grid electronic program guide 47 as shown in FIG.5. As shown, an ongoing broadcast video program 37 is shown with adetailed description bar overlay 39 overlaying the bottom portionthereof Thus, the previous two examples show several means of providinginteractive notification to the user that the start over feature isavailable for a particular program.

Currently, most digital cable distribution systems utilize MPEG-2transport techniques to deliver digital video over hybrid fiber coaxialarchitectures. It is well known to those familiar with the art thatthere are several techniques that are available for delivering programand channel information to the receiving device in order for thereceiving device to become aware of what channels currently exist on thenetwork and what programs are associated with those channels. On thein-band path there are two primary protocols; first the Program SpecificInformation (PSI) data is used to define what services are containedwithin each multiplexed HFC cable. The PSI data contains severalinformation tables that the receiving device will use to determine theappropriate PH) values in which to extract data for each program withinthe transport stream. These information tables are; Program AssociationTable (PAT) and Program Map Table (PMT) which are used to correlatespecific program numbers within the transport stream to specific PIDsvalues, such as the video and audio PIDs for the desired video program.The second in-band protocol which is optionally used by cable systems isthe Program and System Information Protocol (PSIP). PSIP informationdefines the programming within an aerial broadcast system and will bemodified by CATV provider to reflect the new position of the program asit relates to the frequency distribution within the CATV provider'ssystem as opposed to its original over-the-air location.

Several pieces of information are also distributed to the receivingdevice via the downstream out-of-band (OOB) path which is used by thereceiving device to define the available channels on the network. Thefirst OOB information is Service Information (SI) or Network InformationTable (NIT) which provides the virtual channel map information to thereceiving device. This table relates program channel numbers to specificdistribution frequencies on the cable network. Secondly proprietary datais also delivered OOB to support Electronic Program Guides (EPG) thatexists on receiving devices. This information enables the EPG to displayan on screen guide that presents to the user all the programs currentlyavailable on the network as well as their associated virtual channelnumbers. In some cases this proprietary program guide data is deliveredvia an in-band channel whereby the STB would tune to a specified in-bandchannel and extract the program data from the MPEG transport stream.

The channel and program data mentioned above is coordinated by thedelivery network, as such, it is well known to the delivery network. Inaddition, as video programs are stored within the network to support the“minimally interactive” start over solution, it should be categorized insuch a way as to be consistent with at least one component of theinformation that is delivered to the receiving device, such as ProgramName. By utilizing at least one common element the receiving device candeliver upstream to the head end this common indicator so the head endunderstands exactly which program the receiving device wishes to startfrom the beginning.

As hereinbefore described, the head end is operable to receive programsfrom the various programming sources and transmit the plurality ofprogram offerings to the plurality of users through the videodistribution network. In accordance with the present invention, videoprograms are stored in the program storage as well as forwarded toclients in the network. This is accomplished by parsing the channel andprogram data of each incoming video stream of a programming source inorder to determine the start of a new program. When a new program namehas been detected, storage is allocated in the video storage device 21via the video server 20, and an entry is added to a lookup table 40contained in the video server manager 22. FIG. 6 shows a partial list ofprogram names that are contained within the exemplary lookup table 40.Coupled with each program name entry 41 are several other fields, suchas the programming source channel 42, and a currently accessed flag 43.

Each entry will remain persistent in the lookup table as long theprogram is partially elapsed or the currently accessed flag 43 is true(e.g. logic “1”). The currently accessed flag is set to true whenever aclient (user) in the network is currently accessing the video programthat is stored on the storage device, thereby defining a stored videoprogram; if not, the currently accessed flag is set to false (e.g. logic“0”). The system constantly monitors the PID fields of the incomingvideo streams of each programming channel to determine if the particularprogram is partially elapsed. Whenever both currently accessed flag, andthe program name field of the particular programming source changes, theprogram name entry is removed from the lookup table and the stored videoprogram removed from the video storage device.

Optionally, the start over system may also include provisions to allowthe programming source and/or CATV provider to determine what videoprograms, if any, are to be start over enabled. That is, the system maybe configured to allow only a subset of available programming sources orindividual video programs to be enabled for use with the start oversystem. This utility is accomplished by providing a pair of optionalstart over enablement tables that preferably reside in the program anddatabase storage 23 and are accessible by the video server manager 22.Nevertheless, it is to be appreciated that the pair of tables may residein any portion of the network such as in storage means within individualSTBs 13 within the network 10 and controlled by the processing systemtherein.

A pictorial representation of the programming source start overenablement table and program name start over enablement table are shownin FIGS. 7 a and 7 b respectively. The entries within a programmingsource start over enablement table 45 may be updated by the CATVprovider, and serve to limit the use of the start over system to thoseprogramming sources or channels that are included therein. The programname start over enablement table 46 contains a list of individual videoprograms for which the start over system is enabled; accordingly, onlyindividual video programs contained therein are enabled for use by thestart over system. The entries in the program name start over enablementtable 46 are perennially persistent and is only updated/modified by theCATV provider or by the programming source. While control of eithertable by the CATV provider is accomplished via modification of theaforementioned tables maintained locally at the head end, control andmanipulation of either table by the programming source must beaccomplished via information sent within the data stream of the incomingvideo stream. Preferably, this information is sent from the programmingsource to the server using a field of the MPEG-2 packet. The userportion of the incoming video stream of the MPEG-2 packet contains auser bit, which when parsed, is operable by the start over system to addthe associated program ID to the lookup table 40. That is, if the userbit is set to “true”, start over functionality is allowed for thatparticular program source or channel and thus . added to the table. Whenthe start over system obtains receipt of a new program name, either orpreferably both of these tables (45, and 46) are consulted to verifythat both the programming source and program name allow start overfunctionality thereof If not, the video program is not stored in thevideo server 20 while passing through the head end 11.

FIG. 8 shows a flow diagram of the steps involved in a method forrealizing the start over system of the present invention. The method maybe embodied as a program of instructions, defining a controller, thatare executed by a micro-processor located in the STB (client) or headend (server). Alternatively, the steps of the program may be executed onthe STB as well as the head end wherein the processing responsibilitiesare shared therebetween. The system initially causes the head end tomonitor incoming video streams (step 100) in a polling fashion until anew program name has been recovered therefrom (step 101), In practice,the head end may receive numerous new program names within a relativelyshort time frame, and subsequently pass multiple recordation requests tothe video server 20. It is also important to note that the video serveris simultaneously capable of recording a plurality of video programs aswell as playing a plurality of video programs in a concurrent manner.When a new program name has been detected by the system, it mayoptionally be compared against a programming source start overenablement table 45 or a program name start over table 46 located withinthe video server manager 22 (step 102). Preferably, both types of tablesare existent and the system compares both the program name andassociated programming source or channel to insure that the particularvideo program is start over enabled. If either the program name orassociated channel does not have an entry in its respective table (45,and 46), processing of that particular program name has ceased andcontrol reverts back to step 100.

The system then instructs the video server 20 to begin recordation ofthe entire video program and updates the lookup table 40 with the newprogram name information (step 103). After some period of time, the usermay become cognizant of the partially elapsed video program via eitherchanging to that particular channel or by browsing through the EPG. Ifthis is the case and the user wishes to view the the entire videoprogram from start, the dedicated or embedded button on the remotecontrol device 17 is actuated (step 104). Next, the STB 13 reverts tothe ITV mode, wherein a dedicated connection is established with thehead end in order to begin receipt of the stored video program from thevideo server 20 (step 105) using commonly known ITV techniques. Becausethe current status of the STB is in an ITV mode, features that arecommonly associated with an ITV system may be utilized such as pause,fast-forward, fast-rewind, stop, and the like. The user then beginsviewing the stored video program in the normal manner, albeit in a timedelayed fashion from the original time slot alloted by the programmingsource (step 106). The user may view the entire program through to itscompletion or may optionally stop play thereof prematurely. If the userchooses to view the entire program, the system is blocked frominadvertent deletion of the stored video program from the video storageby the setting of the currently accessed flag 43. However, when the userhas completed view of the selected program, the system checks for otherusers that could also he watching the same program, and thus only resetsthe currently accessed flag to “false” if no remaining users arewatching that particular time delayed video program (step 107).

If all remaining users have completed view of the stored video program,or no user within the network has requested view of the program fromstart, the system will still monitor the incoming video stream in apolling fashion until the broadcast video program has totally elapsed(step 108). This allows users a maximum window of opportunity for viewof the program in its entirety, regardless of what portion of theprogram has been missed. Once the program has totally elapsed and nofurther users are accessing the stored version thereof, the systeminstructs the video server to delete the stored video program from videostorage and removes the program name and associated information from thelookup table (step 109).

Alternatively the start over system may he enabled for use with videoprograms transmitted over other network mediums such as the internet.The present invention provides enhanced utility over presently knownstart over systems in that only one button is required to enactreversion to play of the program from the start thereof. Although wellknown video players exist for use with internet coupled devices such apersonal computer, these video players require a multiple step procedurefor enacting the start over mechanism. The present invention on theother hand, provides advantage by requiring only a I step procedure forenacting the start over feature on a partially elapsed video program.This one step procedure encounters the dedication of a key of thekeyboard of the client device. Thus, the user may, if so desired, revertto the start of a partially elapsed video program by simply pressing onekey on the client's keyboard.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention contemplates a VODstart over system which is operable on video programs that are accessedby the user in VOD mode. The VOD start over system is similar to theprevious embodiment in that a storage device, is existent for thestorage of said stored video programs, interactive control by the useris provided by an embedded or overlaid graphical icon, and an inputmeans for input by the user, and a controller for causing reversion tothe start of the video program upon request from the input means. Theonly difference being that a VOD video program is enabled for start overviewing in lieu of the broadcast video program of the previousembodiment. Thus, with the present arrangement, no requirements existfor the storage of incoming broadcast video programs onto the storagedevice; virtually all VOD video programs are already existent therein.Another key difference from the previous embodiment is that the storedvideo program is never deleted from the storage device. A user may thusbegin view of a VOD program, and if so desired during the play thereof,revert back to play from the beginning of the program using only adefined or dedicated button on the remote control device.

Although the present invention has been disclosed with a certain degreeof particularity, it should be recognized that various elements thereofmay be altered by persons skilled in the art without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. For example, it is well known thatindividual video program information may be derived from an accompanyingEPG database. Thus, the system as in step 100 of FIG. 8 may utilize thestart time of a video program as stored in the EPG to initiaterecordation thereof to video storage. Consequently, the completion timeof the video program may be obtained therefrom as well. Thus, thedescribed embodiments are to be considered in all respects only asillustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is,therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription. All changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A video entertainment distribution network havinginteractive television capabilities, comprising: a video storage devicewhich is operable to store a plurality of broadcast video programs whichemanate from at least one programming source; and, a controller incommunication with said storage device for causing said storage deviceto record at least one of said broadcast video programs, therebycreating a stored video program in said storage device which issubstantially similar in content to said broadcast video program;wherein said controller is further operable to cause play of saidbroadcast video program which has partially elapsed to revert to play ofsaid stored video program from the beginning thereof.